Novel analgesic effects of melanin-concentrating hormone on persistent neuropathic and inflammatory pain in mice.

ABSTRACT: The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a peptidergic neuromodulator synthesized by neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta. MCHergic neurons project throughout the central nervous system, indicating the involvements of many physiological functions, but the role in pain has yet to be determined. In this study, we found that pMCH-/- mice showed lower baseline pain thresholds to mechanical and thermal stimuli than did pMCH+/+ mice, and the time to reach the maximum hyperalgesic response was also significantly earlier in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To examine its pharmacological properties, MCH was administered intranasally into mice, and results indicated that MCH treatment significantly increased mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in both pain models. Antagon

SUBMITTER: Jang JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5768747 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature